Multi-Responsive Supramolecular Double Hydrophilic Diblock Copolymer Driven by Host-Guest Inclusion Complexation between β-Cyclodextrin and Adamantyl Moieties

Well-defined beta-CD-terminated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (beta-CD-PNIPAM) was synthesized via a combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and click chemistry. Moreover, adamantyl-terminated poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (Ad-PDEA) was synthesized by ATRP using an adamantane-containing initiator. Host-guest inclusion complexation between beta-CD and adamantyl moieties drives the formation of supramolecular double hydrophilic block copolymers (DHBC) from beta-CD-PNIPAM and Ad-PDEA. The obtained supramolecular PNIPAM-b-PDEA diblock copolymer exhibits intriguing multi-responsive and reversible micelle-to-vesicle transition behavior in aqueous solution by dually playing with solution pH and temperatures.